格式条款使用人的单方变更之规范构建

长期定型化交易中,格式条款使用人对格式条款的内容作单方变更有其必要性和实践意义。我国《合同法》与《民法典合同编(草案)》未对其制度化,故有必要从原理及规范上予以解释与补充。格式条款的单方变更之正当化基础可依据格式条款使用人预先保留单方变更权内容的"变更条款",亦可基于法政策的考量。之于前者,"变更条款"应受到格式条款的一般效力规制且符合相对人的可期待性,以实现对相对人信赖的保护。之于后者,应参考情势变更原则之于司法实践的类型化适用确立"变更必要性"明确的适用范围。为使格式条款的单方变更产生拘束相对人之效力,应构建相对人的利益保护机制。实体规范上该变更应符合"相对人的一般利益"或达到"合理性"要求。程序规范上,格式条款使用人应履行通知义务及相对人享有脱离变更后合同的解约权等救济措施,从而实现相对人知情权、选择权及对等权利的保护。

The Standard Construction of Unilaterally Modification Made by Format Terms Users

In long-term and standard transaction,unilaterally modification of format terms by users is necessary and has its practical meaning.Because unilaterally modification of format terms hasn’t been legalized in Contract Law and Civil Code Draft of China,it is therefore of critical importance to construe and construct from theory and norm.The modification is justified based on the"variation clauses",which belongs to user’s reserved right to unilaterally modify format terms,or based on legal policy considerations.In the former,"variation clauses"are subjected to the normal effectiveness regulation of the format terms and should meet the expectation of the counterparts,in an effort to defend the reliability from counterparts.In the latter,clear and explicit applicable range in"necessity of modification"should be established based on typological application in juridical practice of Circumstances Change Principle.Unilaterally modification of format terms should establish a mechanism for the protection of the counterparts’interests.The binding effects arises from modified format terms should be rational or in line with the general interests of the counterparts.Furthermore,the unilaterally modification of format terms should conform with the procedural requirements as well,i.e.,the users of standard terms have the obligation to inform the counterparts;moreover,the counterparts retain the rights for remedies like terminate the contract and others,so that the counterparts’right to know and right to select as well as their equal rights are guaranteed.